21 My son,(A) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(B)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(C)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(D)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(E)
    and your foot will not stumble.(F)
24 When you lie down,(G) you will not be afraid;(H)
    when you lie down, your sleep(I) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(J)
    and will keep your foot(K) from being snared.(L)

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21 My child, may they[a] not escape from your sight;[b]
    may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22 They shall be life for your soul[c]
    and adornment[d] for your neck.
23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[e]
    and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[f]
    or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence[g]
    and guard your foot from capture.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:21 Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13).
  2. Proverbs 3:21 Literally “eyes”
  3. Proverbs 3:22 Or “inner self”
  4. Proverbs 3:22 Or “favor”
  5. Proverbs 3:24 Or “fear, dread”
  6. Proverbs 3:25 Or “fear, dread”
  7. Proverbs 3:26 Literally “in your confidence”

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(A)

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The righteousness of the upright will save them,
    but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.

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The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(A)

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The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    but the wicked enters into it.

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15 Whoever puts up security(A) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(B)

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15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
    but he who refuses a pledge is safe.

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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(B)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(C)

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The words of the wicked are an ambush of blood,
    but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,[a]
    but the house of the righteous shall stand.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:7 Literally “there is no them”

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

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13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.

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21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(A)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

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21 No evil will happen[a] to the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:21 Literally “All evil will not happen”

Those who guard their lips(A) preserve their lives,(B)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(C)

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He who keeps his mouth guards his life;[a]
    he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(A)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(B)

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14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    in order to avoid the snares of death.

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24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

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24 The path of life leads upward for him who has insight,
    in order to turn away from Sheol below.

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27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(A)

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27 He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

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16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(A)

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16 He who guards commandments guards his life;[a]
    he who is careless of his ways will be killed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Or “soul,” or “inner self”